Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

jackyang1278 · Joined: 25 Mar 2010 Posts: 1

Are the vocabulay tragedy and disaster the same?
And What time should we choose between them?

pugachevV · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2295

Tragedy = an event causing great suffering, destruction and distress.
Also a serious play, with an unhappy ending, especially one about the downfall of the main character.

Disaster = A sudden accident or a natural catastrophe that causes great damage or loss of life.

An event or fact leading to ruin or failure.

As you can see they are not quite the same, but usually they are related.